Prunus plant named ‘NCPR-7’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Prunus cerasifera Prunus  plant, herein referred to by its cultivar name, ‘NCPR-7’, is provided which forms dark purple colored foliage. The new variety forms moderately vigorous vegetation and provides growth habit that is weeping. The new variety is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification:

Latin name—Prunus cerasifera.

Common name—cherry plum.

Varietal denomination: ‘NCPR-7’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Prunus cerasifera cherry plum plant was created in acontrolled breeding program in 2008 at Raleigh, N.C., U.S.A., by acontrolled cross wherein two parents were crossed which previously hadbeen studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the‘Pendula’ variety (non-patented). The male parent (i.e., the pollenparent) was the ‘Atropurpurea’ variety (non-patented).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:‘Pendula’ x ‘Atropurpurea’

The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single seedling withinthe second generation progeny of the above-stated controlled breedingprogram at Jackson Springs, N.C. Selective study resulted in theidentification of a single plant of the new variety in 2014.

It was found that the new variety of Prunus plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) forms attractive, dark purple colored foliage,    -   (b) exhibits weeping growth habit, and    -   (c) provides moderately vigorous vegetation.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, publicareas, and in residential settings. Accordingly, the plant isparticularly well suited for growing in the landscape. Fruit productionhas not yet been observed on the new variety.

The new variety of the present invention can readily be distinguishedfrom its ancestors. More specifically, the ‘Pendula’ variety (i.e., theseed parent) displays medium to dark green colored foliage and the‘Atropurpurea’ variety (i.e., the pollen parent) displays light tomedium-purple colored foliage and non-weeping growth habit, whereas thenew variety displays dark purple colored foliage and weeping growthhabit. The new variety can be distinguished from the most similarnon-parental variety, Prunus cerasifera ‘Newport’ in that the comparisonvariety displays an upright, rounded to pyramidal habit in contrast tothe weeping habit of the new variety.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation atBelvidere, Tenn. by chip budding since 2014. Asexual propagation by chipbudding in Belvidere, Tenn. has shown that the characteristics of thenew variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexualpropagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new varietyundergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘NCPR-7’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. Colors in the photographs maydiffer slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description,which accurately describes the colors of the new variety. The Prunusplants of the new variety were approximately two years of age and wereobserved at the beginning of the third growing season during March andApril of 2017 at Jackson Spring, N.C., U.S.A. while growing outdoors.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen the tree—side view.

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of the emerging foliage.

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a flower.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2007 edition), London,England. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart has beenadded to indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. Thedescription is based on the observation of approximately three-years-oldspecimens of the new variety during February and March 2018 undernatural light conditions at Jackson Springs, N.C., U.S.A. produced fromchip budding and growing outside. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Class: Prunus Plant.-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Weeping.        -   Type.—Deciduous perennial tree.        -   Height.—Approximately 2.13 meters on average.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.3 meters on average.        -   Trunk.—Diameter immediately above graft union: approximately            4.8 cm on average. — texture: slightly rugose.-   Branches:    -   -   Habit.—Highly branched.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Color.—Young stems: commonly near Purple Group N77A. —            mature stems: commonly near Greyed-Purple Group N187B.        -   Diameter.—New growth: approximately 2.0 mm on average. —            one-year old growth: approximately 3.4 mm on average.        -   Lenticel.—General: numerous, tiny. — length: commonly less            than 1.0 mm. — shape: elliptic. — color: commonly near Brown            Group N200B.        -   Texture.—New growth: glabrous.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Deciduous.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Length: approximately 5.6 cm on average. — width:            approximately 3.2 cm on average. — shape: elliptic; apex is            acute; base is rounded to cuneate. — margin: serrate. —            venation pattern: pinnate. — texture of upper and lower            surfaces: smooth, glabrous. — color of upper and lower            surfaces of mature foliage: commonly near Purple Group N77A.            — fragrance: none detected.        -   Petiole.—Length: approximately 1.2 cm on average. —            diameter: approximately 1.1 mm on average. — texture:            smooth, glabrous. — color: commonly near Purple Group N77A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   General description.—Compound corymbs. — aspect: facing            upward to slightly outward. — quantity per plant: numerous.            — fragrance: slightly sweet. — flower diameter:            approximately 1.5 cm on average. — flower height:            approximately 1.4 cm on average.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: strong. — shape: rounded. — aspect: erect            to about 45° from branch axis. — length: approximately 0.8            cm on average. — diameter: approximately less than 1.0 mm on            average. — texture: glabrous. — color: commonly near            Red-Purple Group 59C.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: single, rotate, not persistent. —            aspect: upright. — quantity per inflorescence: approximately            1 flower per flower bud.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: ovate tapering to a point. —            length: approximately 2.4 cm on average. — diameter:            approximately 1.0 mm on average. — color: commonly near            Red-Purple Group 59A. — texture: glabrous.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: approximately 5, unfused. —            shape: orbicular; apex is rounded; base is obtuse. — margin:            entire. — length: approximately 9.0 mm on average. — width:            approximately 8.0 mm on average. — texture of upper and            lower surfaces: glabrous. — color of upper and lower            surfaces when first and fully open: commonly near Red-Purple            Group 73D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: vase-shaped; 5 rounded lobes at terminus. —            length: approximately 4.8 mm on average. — diameter:            approximately 3.0 mm at top of hypanthium on average. —            color of outer and inner surfaces: commonly near Red-Purple            Group 72B. — texture of inner and outer surfaces: glabrous.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: commonly 5, attached to top of hypanthium.            — arrangement: in a single whorl.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: strong. — shape: round. — length:            approximately 0.8 cm on average. — diameter less than 1.0 mm            on average. — texture: glabrous. — color: commonly near            Red-Purple Group 59C.        -   Stamen.—Quantity: approximately 21 on average per flower,            unfused and attached to apex of hypanthium. — length:            approximately 3.0 mm on average.        -   Filament.—Length: approximately 5.0 mm on average. — color:            commonly near Red-Purple Group 65C.        -   Anther.—Shape: round to slightly oblong. — length: commonly            less than 1.0 mm. — width: commonly less than 1.0 mm. —            color: commonly near Red-Purple Group 65C.        -   Pollen.—Amount is sparse and color is commonly near Yellow            Group 9C.        -   Pistil.—Quantity: commonly 1 per flower. — length:            approximately 1.0 mm on average. — width: commonly less than            1.0 mm. — color: commonly near Red-Purple Group 59B. —            texture: glabrous.        -   Stigma.—Shape: round. — color: commonly near Red-Purple            Group 72A. — length: commonly less than 1.0 mm. — width:            commonly less than 1.0 mm.        -   Style.—Shape: elongate. — width: commonly less than 1.0 mm.            — color: commonly near Red-Purple Group 72A.        -   Ovary.—Position: superior. — shape: round. — width: commonly            less than 1.0 mm on average. — color: commonly near            Red-Purple Group 72A.        -   Seeds.—None observed.-   Development:    -   -   Growth time.—Approximately 1.5 years from budding to finish            as a 4 to 6 foot tree.        -   Vegetation.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Flowering season.—Flowers in late winter to early spring.        -   Resistance to disease.—Resistance to pathogens and pests            common to Prunus plants has not been observed.

The new ‘NCPR-7’ variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensityand duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Prunus plant characterized bythe following combination of characteristics: (a) forms attractive, darkpurple colored foliage, (b) exhibits weeping growth habit, and (c)provides moderately vigorous vegetation; substantially as herein shownand described.